Laurel Vicklund
Board member since 2014
Bio: Laurel has recently retired as a Sr. Environmental Scientist for Peabody Energy in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. She has worked on reclaiming mined lands, permitting, and regulatory affairs for over 25 years. She has assisted with various reclamation studies and co-authored journal articles and conference proceedings. She received her BS with major concentration in soils from Colorado State University.
Regarding her participation in the Association, Laurel reflects, “I have not seen the level of collaboration in other working groups that the Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association offers from a unique combination of private land owners, industry and federal agencies. The comprehensive conservation plans and results from TBGPEA’s collaboration have exceeded what any one person or agency could have developed. It is inspiring to be a part of this kind of conservation.”
When she is not working, Laurel enjoys wood working, hunting and assisting her husband, Olin Oedekoven, with the out-of-country portion of his business.
Monte Reed
Board member since 2022
Bio: Monte is a third-generation rancher who grew up on his family’s ranch and has been helping manage it since 2001, following his graduation from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Plant Science and a minor in Ranch Management.
Raising both cattle and sheep, Monte sees firsthand the value of diversity—not just in livestock, but in wildlife and plant species as well. In his experience, what's good for wildlife is often good for the ranch. He believes strongly in balancing conservation with profitability:
“If you can't make money on your ranch, then soon it will be owned by someone else—and wildlife and conservation may be the last things they care about. Any gains previously made could be lost.”
Monte enjoys collaborating with various organizations to test new ideas and support research. One standout effort involved collaring cows—first to study their grazing patterns and later to implement virtual fencing. This innovative work brought together partners like the Agricultural Research Service, University of Wyoming, and TBGPEA. Years of data from these efforts have offered valuable insights, supporting practical improvements and sparking new strategies that benefit everyone involved.
Wanda Burget
Board member 2002 - 2013, & 2016 - present
Bio: Wanda is a native Wyomingite whose background incorporates a ranching heritage with a longtime career in the Wyoming mining industry. She is a co-owner and principal of Accord Resource Solutions, LLC, a woman-owned natural resource-based consultancy based in Wyoming and serves as the Executive Director of the Wyoming Mining Natural Resource Foundation, which is currently managing a large landscape-scale conservation effort created to benefit the greater sage-grouse which was initiated by the trona/soda ash industry in southwestern Wyoming.
Prior to these efforts, Wanda served as the Vice President of Environmental Services for Norwest Corporation and spent 29 years with Peabody Energy Corporation where she served as Director of Sustainable Development, environmental lead for federal coal leasing efforts, and as a member of Peabody’s international project support team, among other responsibilities.
Her years of work leading and promoting environmental stewardship, sustainable development, project management, community outreach and stakeholder relations have provided her a substantial portfolio of experience and industry knowledge – not only within the mining industry, but with the energy and agricultural industries as well. She has a solid record of effective engagement in industry, stakeholder and community issues and has held positions of leadership and responsibility in numerous local, state, regional and national workgroups and coalitions comprising a broad and diverse cross-section of stakeholders.
John Riehle
Board member since 2013
Bio: John has served on the Association Board since 2013. He holds a degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Wyoming and also serves on the board of a local grazing association. A full-time rancher since 2001, John is the fourth generation to work his family’s ranch, which was established in 1917.
He’s passionate about finding practical, science-based solutions that support wildlife, agriculture, and the broader landscape.
“It’s critical to keep ranchers on the land,” he says. “They’re the ones caring for the land, livestock, and wildlife every single day.”
Geri Proctor
Board member since 2024
Bio: Geri retired from the U.S. Forest Service in December 2023 after 34 years of service as a rangeland management specialist. From 2009 to 2023, she worked closely with TBGPEA in that role. During her time there, she was consistently impressed by TBGPEA’s hands-on approach and its ability to unite people from all backgrounds to achieve shared conservation goals.
Geri and her husband, Bill, own a small livestock operation in Niobrara County and have been part of the livestock industry for 38 years. She values using livestock as a practical tool to manage vegetation—supporting forage production, wildlife habitat, and overall rangeland health.
Outside of work, Geri enjoys horseback riding and spending time with all kinds of animals.
Gwyn McKee
Board member since 2025
Bio: Gwyn has called Wyoming home since 1994, when she moved to Gillette to begin work as a contract wildlife biologist. Her early work focused on supporting the surface mining and utility industries in the Powder River Basin. In 2000, she took over the business and now owns and operates Great Plains Wildlife Consulting, Inc., based in Banner, Wyoming.
Gwyn has been involved with the Association since 2009. She started by conducting wildlife surveys that supported local habitat mapping and treatment projects. Since then, she and her team have continued to contribute through work on the CCAA/CCA/CA Conservation Strategy and by regularly mapping prairie dog colonies on the Thunder Basin National Grassland to support various management and research efforts.
Over the years, Gwyn has developed a deep respect for the ranching community she works alongside and feels a strong connection to the Association. She’s continually inspired by the wide range of collaborative projects the Association supports and feels honored to be a part of them.
Outside of work, Gwyn stays busy volunteering on wildlife and community projects. She also enjoys horseback riding, hiking, hunting, and taking care of her own small acreage property.
Dave Pellatz
Bio: Dave grew up on a cattle/sheep and working guest ranch in northeastern Wyoming. After receiving BS degrees in petroleum and geological engineering from New Mexico Tech, he spent 10 years doing business development and project management for Conoco. In 1994, a desire to return to his Wyoming roots led him to start his own consulting business, Renaissance Services.
Dave began working for the Association as their project manager in 2007 and has served as the Executive Director | Conservation Coordinator since 2013. In addition to his work with the Association, he has served as range manager for the Thunder Basin Grazing Association since 2007, supervising water development and grazing management on Forest Service lands in the southern portion of the Thunder Basin region of Wyoming.
In December 2014, Dave completed a Masters of Natural Resources Stewardship degree through Colorado State University. In his spare time, Dave enjoys collecting antiques, rock hunting, and spending time with his wife and children.
Founding Members
Betty Pellatz
Frank G. Eathorne, Jr.
Bio: Frank has ranched on the family ranch for over 50 years and has been involved with local organizations for much of that time. He has been active in the local Farm Bureau, served as vice president for the WY Farm Bureau Federation, was a county commissioner for seven years, and currently chairs the board of a local grazing association. He has been on the board of the Association since its inception.
Growing up on a ranch and then as a young rancher, Frank says he thought mostly about the livestock. “But over time, I have come to appreciate the need for conservation. Unless we manage our resources wisely, one can cause damage that may be difficult or impossible to repair.”
Of the association’s origin and accomplishments, he reflects, “We were just some ranchers brainstorming, trying to come up with ways to deal proactively with the Endangered Species Act and possible listings. We realized that we would have more ability to influence outcomes if we worked as a group. Over time and with professional help, we realized that the CCAA provisions in the Endangered Species Act offer land owners a great opportunity. Although we did not realize how time consuming and complicated the process of crafting this Strategy would be, I’m glad we were able to hang in there and, eventually, come up with something that is truly worthwhile.”
In his free time, Frank enjoys flying small airplanes, a hobby he developed as a result of military flight training.
Jewell Reed
Bio: Jewell brings a lifetime of ranching experience to the Association, and has served as treasurer since its founding. She grew up on her parents’ homestead in the Thunder Basin and still lives in the same community. Her great grandchildren are now the fourth generation living on the ranch she and her husband Earl bought soon after they were married. The family has always been involved in community activities such as 4-H, Homemakers, Farm Bureau, Wool Growers, and the Wyoming State Fair. They take pride in their cattle, sheep, and wool.
Jewell believes in a balance between domestic livestock and wildlife, and feels that the Association helps both ranching and wildlife to thrive by promoting proper usage of local resources. She is excited about the knowledge gained through the Association’s monitoring efforts, and is pleased that this information is available to the public through the website, friendly conversations, and other avenues. “We know that mining and ranching can coexist,” she says. “The coal mines have proven that land can be reclaimed to its former state—or better. The next big challenge is oil and gas development. Our hope is that with education, patience, work, and good will, that too can become a plus.”
Denise Langley
Lona Nachtman
Bio: Lona is a third generation rancher: “I’ve been ranching all my life,” she says. “I’ve been blessed to live my life within God’s creation.” She also maintains and manages the weather station that has been located on her family’s ranch for 80 years, providing an important and rare source of weather data for the Thunder Basin region. Lona has a special interest in the local animal species, especially raptors, and has enjoyed working with other ranchers to deepen her understanding of animal behaviors.
Of the importance of conservation in agriculture, Lona says, “The species are here and we’re here, both existing together. It’s been working, and it is important to keep it working. Whenever we can improve the land or the situation for the animals, I think we should.”
When not ranching, Lona enjoys woodworking, fishing, and spending time with her dogs.